TELEVISED’S SONGS OF THE SUMMER 2026
BY OUR TEAM :)
SUMMER 2026 BROUGHT US SOME UNFORGETTABLE TUNES THAT HAVE ALREADY CREATED NOSTALGIA FOR THESE PAST FEW MONTHS. HERE IS A LIST OF SOME OF OUR FAVORITE SONGS OF THE SUMMER:
“I Knew It, I Knew You”by Taylor Swift for Toy Story 5 is the perfect song for summer! Breezy and full of light, it’s a sweeteningly nostalgic song about reconnecting with the one you love most. Inspired by Toy Story’s Jessie, this song is a delightful return to Swift's country roots, and for many listeners, a return to a childlike innocence for a few brief minutes. The type of song you listen to with the car windows rolled all the way down, it’s timeless enough to be enjoyed for years to come even if you haven’t seen the film it was created for.
Citizen’s“Always the Last One to Leave” captures the end of something beautiful, something deeply cared for. Much like how most might feel towards the end of summer, not quite ready for the season to end the song is that late August reality. While sonically it's much quieter than your typical summer anthem, its slower tempo and reflective vocals hit with a heavy, honest weight. Lyrically the song mirrors the shift of the season, starting with a youth-like romance before progressing into the crushing reality of adulthood. “Always the Last One to Leave” is the rain hitting your window on those late summer nights.
My song of the summer is “Camera” by Charli XCX. Why? CUZ ALL I KNOW IS HOW IT MAKES ME FEEL! It’s a combination of euphoric, hazy production paired with brutally honest lyrics that feel both freeing and existential. Charli has always had an incredible ability to talk about life’s biggest questions, the kind that always seem to be looming in the background, while softening the blow with an airy, reassuringly ordinary sense of humor. The simple declaration, “I don’t feel embarrassed even if I suck,” has served as the perfect mantra to take risks, say yes, and make the most of the season. Hearing Charli reflect on turning 34 and still wanting to be in front of the camera reassures me about the inevitability of getting older and reminds me that you’re never too old to chase the things that make you feel alive. It’s the perfect soundtrack for an adventurous summer!
A song driven by agony, resentment, and self-doubt isn't usually what comes to mind as a typical summer staple, but Erin Lecount’s “THE CINEMA” puts these feelings behind a synth-heavy, catchy pop anthem. Unfortunately, a time comes when Summer feels less about endless vacation days and more about reflection. With less to focus on, your mind wanders. Which is why I think “THE CINEMA” captures the season so perfectly. Referring to the looping chorus, LeCount said in an Instagram post prior to the release, “Creativity is beautiful but can be maddening, and one day all that frustration and obsession was all channeled into synth pop hysteria. What if a pop song just went on and on forever? Drove you to insanity?” This repetitive chorus becomes almost impossible to escape, because LeCount turned that frustration into infectious production. Beyond its existential lyrics, this is a song you can blast on a summer drive. It's a perfect collision of euphoria and regret, turning imposter syndrome into something you can dance to.
Maybe the best is now! That’s what Judah and the Lion say, anyway, on their new song “Maybe the Best is Now”- which may be my most listened to track of this year. It’s catchy, it’s uplifting, and it has banjos- what more could you even ask for? “Maybe the Best is Now” was debuted at their spring tour last year, and it has played in my head on loop until its official release this summer with album “I AM A PRISM”. With lyrics that emphasize not focusing too much on regrets of the past or worries of the future, this song reminds us to enjoy the present. While it sounds heavy, it’s really not. It’s definitely a song best enjoyed blasting over a speaker! I appreciate that it captures such a topic while not losing their trademark hype. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I’m counting down the days until instead of singing along in my car, I’m screaming it with Judah and Brian on tour.
